by Jorge E. Vidal
Special to Rice News
More than 30 of the brightest early career researchers in quantum materials met from July 27 to Aug. 1 at the Rice Global Paris Center for the Young Research Leaders in Topological Materials and Beyond workshop. This invitation-only event, in part a celebration of 100 years of quantum materials research, brought together junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars from around the world to exchange bold ideas and shape the future of a rapidly evolving field.
Unlike many conferences, this workshop was dedicated to convening rising stars in the field to foster international collaborations and push the boundaries of quantum materials research. The 2025 gathering continues a successful series of Young Research Leaders workshops previously held in Germany, Israel, the United States and Hong Kong.
“We are extremely excited to host the 2025 Young Research Leaders in Topological Materials and Beyond workshop at the Rice Global Center in Paris,” said Yonglong Xie, event co-organizer and assistant professor of physics and astronomy. “Co-organized with collaborators in Europe, including Rice strategic partner Paris Sciences et Lettres, this event highlights Rice’s bold vision to bring the world to Rice and bring Rice to the world.”
The workshop reflects Rice’s leadership in quantum materials research and strengthens the university’s ties with European institutions, including its strategic global partnership for research and innovation with the Université Paris Sciences and Lettres (PSL), as it explores new avenues for collaboration across Europe.
Other event co-organizers include Rice’s Ming Yi, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Rice, along with Arthur Marguerite (PSL-ESPCI), Ben Wieder (Université Paris-Saclay) and Niels Schröter (Max Planck Institute-Halle).
“This is a very unique workshop in the sense that it brings together junior faculty and also postdocs, a truly new generation of researchers in quantum materials,” Yi said. “This reflects Rice’s commitment to both young researchers and quantum materials research.”
This event was supported by the university through Rice Global and its Office of Research, Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice Advanced Materials Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Wiess School of Natural Sciences.
In addition to support from within Rice, the workshop was sponsored by leading international organizations, including the European Research Council, the Institute of Complex Adaptive Matter, the PSL Global Seed Fund, IPhT/Paris Saclay/CEA/CNRS, the Julian Schwinger Foundation, Oxford Instruments, SPECS and Nature Physics.